Linen folding machine



Sept. 20, 1938.

v G. B. COMBARETTE LINEN FOLDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 -.|NVEINT'OR= MIRA 9. BY

Filed Feb. 8, 1936 Sept. 20, 1938. G. B. COMBARETTE LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Eva 16a! MBAREJTTEL GERVAIS BENOIAT 00 a s p mwy fltf/orzzeys Sept. 20, 1938. G. B. COMBARETTE 2,130,733

LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 A [raw L601 GERVAI5 BENOIT COMBARETTE fittofnez/s Sept, 20, 1938. G. B. COMBARETTE 2,130,733

LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 A [Zn/61260 GERVAIS BENOIT COMBARETTE l'ttbrzzeys Sept. 20, 1938. I

G. B. COMBARETTE LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed- Feb. 8, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 GERVAIS, BENOTT COMBARETTE Sept. 20, 1938.

G. B. COMBARETTE LINEN FOLDING MACHINE FiledFeb. 8, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 U .2- "544mm 11% GERVAIS BENOTT COMBA RETTE) By 1 1" flttorzzeys P 1933- ca. B. COMBARETVTE 2,130,733

LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. s, 1956 9 Sheets -She et '7 Invent/01 wILRVA/S BENO/T COMBARETTE \DYW, v

flttorneys.

Sep G. B. COMBARETTE LINEN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet'B 1 INVENTOR= AT TO R N 5V6 G. B. C.OMB'ARETTE 2,130,733

LINEN FOLDING MACiHINE I Filed Feb. s, 1936 QSheefs-Sheet-Q 23 x j l YINVENTOR= wflmfiwme: ,ozizyw ATTORNEYS .Patent d Sept. 20, 193 I UNITED STATES PATENT orrics 2,130,733 LINEN FOLDING momma: Gervais Benoit Combarctte, Thlzy, France Application February 8. 1936, Serial No. 62,959

In France February 9, 1835 4 Claims- (CL 223-37) handled, to a storing place.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this kind which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice.

According to an essential feature of the present invention, trays, plates or boards are provided which are adapted to pivot longitudinally and laterally and are combined with a modeling frame adapted to oscillate longitudinally, in such a way that two pivoted trays driven from the main shaft and adapted to rotate sldewise successively fold up the lateral portions of the article and that a frame adapted to oscillate longitudinally, driven from the main shaft, through a system of cams and links and disposed in line with the modeling frame, folds up one end of the linen article; upon which, after the parts have come back to their open position, the modeling frame,

which, up to this time, had been secured in position, is released either manually or automatically and brought, for instance by means of springs, into the final position, in which the folded linen article is ejected and eventually inserted into a protective envelope.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views showing the apparatus before and after centring respectively, supposing the folding table taken out.

Fig. 3 is a section along 3-4! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the folding apparatus for shirts in its idle or off position without any centring-device omitted shown associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the machine along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the modeling-tray having been lifted up.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side-view, on an enlarged scale, showing the drive of the small board used to press down the shirt-skirt.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section along 1-1 of Fig. 5, the movable back-tray being in raised position, and the pressing-down side-trays having been lowered into idle position.

Fig. 8 is another transverse section along 8--8 of Fig. 5, with one pressing down side tray lowered and. the other lifted up.

Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse fragmentary sections disclosing the mechanism of the pressingdown side-tray-drive.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are longitudinal fragmentary sections showing the drive-mechanism of the movable tray and small board used to press the shirt-skirt down, the direction of the movementdrive axle having been displaced by 90.

Figs. 14 and 15 are similar longitudinal sectional views which show the drive-mechanism of the automatic movement of the modeling-tray.

Fig. 16 is a plan View of the ejector-device fitted on a shirt-folding machine.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary section along line i'i-ll of Fig. 16; showing the ejection movement properly so called which drives the ejectortray.

Fig. 170. shows on an enlarged scale Fig. 17.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional 56-48 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a partial plan view of the machine, when the modeling-tray has been turned down.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the frame of the modeling tray.

Figs. 21 and 22 are a plan view, respectively, and a vertical view of a modified centrlng device.

Fig. 23 is a vertical side view of an apparatus with electric driving means.

Figs. 24 and 25 are transverse sections along lines fit-Zd and 2%25, respectively, of Fig. 23.

Figs. 26 and 27 are enlarged scale figures, showing profile and plan views, respectively, of a clutch suitable for the driving of any pieces.

' According to the invention, the centring device is provided with a fixed shoulder a the top-par of which is almost level with the table b on which is put the shirt to be folded c.

This centering-device further includes two small movable shoulders d and e. Both of the movable shoulders 42 and e are situated at the end of levers f, g oscillating respectively in h and i and the other ends of which are articulated in k and t at the end of the two small links m and n. In turn, these small levers have their other ends articulated in 0 on a movable rod p.

As shown by Figs. 1 to 3, when the rod 1) is moved lengthwise, the vertical branches of the levers f and g which bear shoulders d and e rea detail of view taken along spectively, are either moved toward each other or away from each other. 1

In order automatically to produce this automatic movement, I may use the following arrangement.

The rod 9, the movement of which is guided by the slide bars q and r, is under the action of a counter spring t, acting in the direction of the arrow 8. One end of this spring has its support on the rod in u and the other end on the slide bar r.

The action of this spring tends of course to open the legs I and a, bearing respectively the shoulders d d and e which, thm are moved away from each other. In order to keep them near each other, as shown in Fig. 1, it is suflicient to compress the sprin t and l"11118 keep the P pushed back by means of any abutment whatever. This abutment may be the end of arm 12 articulated in w and under the action of a spring a: which tends to llftit up, so that its end can lock in a suitable way an abutment provided for such I purpose at the lower part of rod p.

In the instance chosen and described, it is the lower end of the axle 0 which acts as this abutment.

In order to produce the disengaging of the system, it is just necessary to move down the lever 12 by depressing it by push-button v the bottom of which bears thereon.

The setting in the starting position can be obtained mechanically, for instance by means of a bufier z fastened on the rod 3) and driven by means of a side pin 2 suitably fastened and directed on the axle 3, around which the shirt folding mould revolves.

The centring device can be used in the following way:-

The shirt to be folded c is spread, the back being on top on the table b of the machine, taking care that the shoulders a, d and e (Fig. 1) be covered by the shirt collar previously buttoned. On pressing on button 11, the expansion of the spring p causes the opening of the branches I and g and the catching around the shoulders a, d and e of the shirt collar (Fig. 2). It is then sufficient to pull the opposite end of the shirt to spread it correctly on the machine-table. Should this device be fitted on a machine provided with a folding mould 5 turning around an axle 3, the rotary movement in the direction of the arrow 0 which turns it down on the back of the shirt, would start the device, that is to say, would push back the buffer 2 of the rod 9 and thus bring nearer to each other the movable shoulders d and e.

Once the folding has been done, it is quite easy to take the shirt on and put another one in its place the device being ready to work again.

The whole of the device can be pported by a small board 'Lmovable with regard to the table I), so that it is possible to set the centringshoulders a, d and e with regard to the axle 3 of the mould according to the lengthpf the article being folded.

This adjustment is the set screws 8 which, through the grooves 9, ensure the fastening of the small board I to the table b.

It is also with a view to permitting or adjusting its position on the rod 11 that the buffer 2 is fastened on it by means of a screw II.

The shirt well centred and stretched being so arranged, with the shirt front underneath, on the table b, the sleeves are folded up by hand on the sides of the shirt body, either lengthwise, or by a fold, so that the ends of the sleeves be near the made possible by loosening shirt collar. This being done, the modeling-tray I is put on the back of the shirt in using for said purpose the handle 33. The modeling-tray! is kept-in this pressed down position illustrated in Fig. 14, by a ratchet 41 which clicks into sector 4 fixedon the axle 3 of the modeling-tray i.

In the position illustrated by Fig. 13, the modeling tray 5 is located between table b and frame ,32. The shirt is wholly folded around the modeling tray. After folding, the modeling tray I assumes the position shown by Fig. 13. As soon as the frame 32 has come back into the position shown by Fig. 15, the hook 4'! is automatically or manually lifted out of the teethof sector 4. From this time on, the modeling tray 5 can turn about its axis 3, as shown by Figs. 14 and 15.

The folding mechanism can then be started by means of the treadle 53. A depressing of this treadle produces, first, the lifting-of the bolt 51 on account of the traction transmitted to it by the cable 53 fastened to its lever. The handwheel 59 is thus freed and, when keeping onrdepressing the treadle, a rotary movement is given, by means of a chain to the cog-wheel i i and to the shaft l2 on which it is set. A ratchet-pinion l3, or any other means, prevents the shaft l2 and the parts fastened thereto to turn in the opposite direction, either occasionally, or at the coming back of the treadle. On the shaft I 2 is set another toothed gear I4, that transmits, by means of a chain I! and of the wheel I3, the rotary movement to the shaft H on which are fixed the different individual driving-cams of the various movements. The cam i3 situated at the end of the shaft is used to keep the bolt 51 lifted during the whole folding-operation. The cam I9 drives the side pressing down tray 20 by means of the rod 2| and the cam 22 drives the side pressing down tray 23 by means of the rod 24. Both cams I! and 22 are shifted apart on the shaft IT, in such a way that they cause the pressing down trays 20 and 23 to work immediately one after the other. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the rods 2| and 24 which respectively produce the pressing down of the trays 20 and 23, carry at their lower end a roller 25, 25' and are articulated at their upper part to a lever having the bowed shape of an arc 26 and the other end of which, engages, by means of a stud, in a slide-bar 21 fastened on the lower face of the pressing-down tray. In this way, each one of the side pressing-down trays is lifted up as soon as the respective rod 2| or 24 is pushed back by the corresponding cam 19 or 22.

The Fig. 9 represents the pressing down system with the first tray 20 lowered, the other being yet in its position of rest; Fig. 10, the tray 20 has come back to its position of rest and the second one 23 is lowered. The hinges ll of the pressing down'trays 20 and 23 are covered by the modeling tray 5 when the latter is swung down for the folding of the shirt. Notches I are provided in the tray 5 for aflording passages for the parts I42 of the hinges I40. It follows that, when rotating, the pressing down tray, the internal face of which is partly provided with small teeth or projections so as to catch the fabric, therefore pulls the edga of the front part of the shirt. This is due to the fact that, in order to fold back these edges toward the inside, it compels the fabric to turn about, and surround, the lateral edges I43 of the modeling tray 5 when the internal edges I44 of the pressing down trays 2|! and 23 come into the positions I45 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In this way, creases in the shirt-front are avoided.

. arsonss When the roller 25 or 25 has gone beyond the more eccentred part of its respective cam, the

pressing down tray being no longer raised, will return automatically to its resting position under the action of the spring 28, or respectively 28, fastened to the lower part of lever 26.

The shirt having thus been folded in three parts in its width it is then necessary to fold it lengthwise. So as to avoid an intricate drawing and make its reading easier, the orientation of the axle ill with respect to its visible and normal position has been displaced by 90 (Fig. 5). For this purpose, at the back of the table, beyond the mould 5, there is a tray or a movable frame 32. This tray or frame is driven by a cam 29 fixed on the same shaft ill as the other cams it and 22 (Fig. 5). It drives the mechanism which starts the frame 32 by means of the roller iii) situated at the end of the rod iii and a system of articulated levers it, ill, 33 and fit more especially visible in Figs. 11 and 12.

When the rod it is pushed upwards, at the beginning of its stroke, it exerts a pressure, by

means of the links 3| and 33, on the rod 3d the end of which is provided with a rack 35 (Fig. 6) with which the pinion 36 set on the axle of the movable plate 31 meshes. As a consequence of this, this plate 31 is pressed down towards the inside in folding the shirt skirt. Going on with its upward movement, the rod 3! causes the turning round, by means of the small connecting-rod 33 of the movable frame 32 which revolves around the axle 38 and comes down on the moulding-tray 2, on which it applies the shirt completely folded (Fig. 13).

As before, for the longitudinal foldings, it is necessary to have the shirt-front creases disappear. For this purpose, the frame 32 has a bent part 39' which, revolving round its axle 38, increases the cloth tension.

At this moment, the roller til having left the cam 29, the movable frame 32 returns while turning in the direction of the arrow under the action of the return spring lit and again assumes its initial idle position.

At the beginning of this return movement of the frame 32, on account of its weight, the plate 31 turns in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 6) and, setting itself free from underneath the shirt-skirt, causes gradually the prolongation of said frame 32.

As shown by Figs. 4, 6, 1i and 15, at the end of this movement, one of the bent parts 39 of the frame 32 comes in contact with the end at of the lever ii and presses it downwards, so that the other end 43 of the lever ii lifts the lever it up and sets the ratchet d'l free from the sector i, so that the modeling-tray 5 comes back under the action of spring which, previously stretched when pressing down occurred on the back of the shirt, cause it to turn in the opposite direction to that of the arrow t in order to bring it back automatically in the initial starting position shou n in Fig. i. This automatic action can be suppressed by means of a control member. In this case, the ratchet M is set free in pressing on the tappet it,

To make use of this machine, the procedure is as follows:-

The shirt being stretched and correctly centred on the table, the shirt-front being underneath, the sleeves are put in their place and the modeling-frame 5 is pressed down on its back.

successively, one folds then lengthwise each one of the sides by means of a small articulated board which stretches at the same time the front of the shirt so as to make the creases disappear.

This having been done, by means of the articulated movable frame, the shirt-skirt is folded on itself, and is then folded in two with respect to its length around the modeling frame 5 which is thereafter returned at last so as to bring the shirt-front uppermost.

The modeling tray 5 may be turned manually by means of the cranked handle 93. When its operation is to be automatic, a spring is then used for this purpose.

In this case, I provide for instance about the spindle 3 of the modeling frame 8 coil springs 66, 89, 90, the ends of which bear on the one side upon the table b and on the other hand upon the pressure member 88. When the latter has been turned in the direction of arrow 5 (Fig. 5), these springs 38 are tensioned. If the pawl 61 is then moved out from between the teeth of the sector i, the springs bring back the modeling tray 5 out of the positions illustrated by Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive. In the course of this movement, the modeling tray ii carries along the shirt 0, folded around it, as shown by Fig. 15.

In addition to the essential elements above described the pressing down trays 20 and 23 are provided with surface projecting ridges 5i used to mark beforehand the fold along which the transverse folding will subsequently be done.

As, during the folding, it may be necessary from time to time to iron the linen, appropriate devices ensure, at the required moment, the momentary stopping of the shaft Ili which bears the cams when the folding is wholly automatic. The ejector device (Fig. 19) is formed by an ejector part 6 i, which, in ,the method described is set in the middle of the modeling-tray 5, between the two plates 62 and 63 of the latter, the spacing of which can be regulated.

The frame of the modeling-tray has been provided with slide bars 56, hi, t8 and 69 enabling to fix the plates 62 and Bit with a variable spacing, according to the width of the article to be folded.

The modeling-tray, after the folding, is in the middle of the shirt to be ejected and of course will carry it away in its movement when it is moved by the mechanism hereinafter described for bringing it from the position shown by Fig. 11 into that shown by Figs. 17 and 19. This part iii is guided in its course, for instance, by the roller in which engages in the central slide bar ii and by two side rollers i2 and it placed end to end. A cable it pulled by an automatic rollingdevice iii brings back the ejector part iii after the ejection has taken place.

The mechanical system of ejection properly so called contains a rectangular frame '56, at the top of which is placed a driving rod Ti which is used to throw the ejector part 66. This framelB is kept in the working position by a hook it which can be depressed, so as to set the frame free, by pressure on a button 79. This operation can be made either by hand, or, preferably mechanically, by means of any appropriate mechanism, for instance a tappet G l fixed in the toothed sector t used to stop the modeling-tray 5. When the hook I8 is depressed as said hereabovef'the release spring 80 pulls abruptly the. frame it forward and the driving rod 11, which is guided in its course by the central slide bare ll gives an abrupt forward movement to the ejector part 6i which is cast forward, carrying the folded shirt or any other article away and lays it down on a did small board 8| at the end of the linen-folding machine. In the case represented by Fig. 16, the

- ejector being thrown out of gear before that the instance. The shaft l2 on which the handwheel 8 of the shirt-folding machine is set is extended and bears a helicoidal screw 82 having a barrel shape. The frame I8 bears a hook" the axle of which 88 can turn round on its vertical pieces; a spring" fastened to the axle 88 tends to keep the hook 88 lowered down, but a spring tappet .88

prevents the lowering of the hook 88 while the ejection takes place. When said ejection is over and when the frame I8 drawn forward by the release spring 88 is at the end of its stroke, the spring tappet 88 knocks a bufl'er 81 which will lower it down momentarily thus setting the hook 88 free and the latter under the action of its spring 88 will go down and engage in the helicoidal toothwork of the screw 82, that will bring it back with the frame 18 bearing the driving rod '11 pertaining to the ejector device 8|. Whenthe hook 88 comes to the end of the helicoidal screw 82, the frame 18 is stopped again by the hook l8 and the ejector is ready to work. By said movement the hook 88 is also ready by-means of the pawl fastened on its axle and the spring tappet 88, so that the hook 88 will not fall again on the screw 82 when the driving-rod 'Il will be let free.

The ejector device is completed by a pressure system situated underneath and at a small distance from the modeling-frame 8 to prevent the linen from unfolding. It is well known that after the linen-folding the modeling-tray is generally pressed down and it describes a circle-arc of 180; when it has gone beyond the verticalline, the linen would unfold if it was not kept down firmly pressed on the tray by a' suitable device. Said device consists, for instance of a fork 88 with two legs set on the same axle 8 as the modeling-tray 8 but rather loose with respect to it. Two spiral-springs 88, 88 operate the two ends 8|, 82 and tend to keep this fork upright. When the modeling-tray 8 comes to that position, the fork 88 applies on the linen article and keeps it ,down until the ejection takes placewithout hindering same, on account of the very little stress it opposes to it.

Fig. 17a shows an embodiment of the construction of the end of the rod controlling the ejecting member 8|, as shown by Fig. 17. r

The arm I8 is provided at its end with a sleeve |8l on the inside of which is slidably mounted a rod TI which is constantly urged outwardly by a spring shown at I82.

nearing the end of its stroke, as shown in dotted "lines by Figs. 17 and 19. the ejecting member is moved backward by the cable 18 and its automatic winding device I8, into the position illustrated by Fig. 19.

- At the beginning of its return movement, so as to come into the position shown in solid lines, the

end of the rod 'I'l comes into contact with the ejecting member 8|. Under this action, the rod 11 is driven into the tube |8|, so as not to interfere with the return movement of the arm 18.

At the end of the stroke, as shown by Figs. 17

and 19, the end of the rod 'I'l comes into the position shown in solid lines.

'When coming opposite the aperture visible on Fig. 19, the rod 11 pushed by the spring |82 moves out from the tube IM and comes back into the normal position behind the ejector device, as shown by Fig. 17. i

In Figs. 21 to 25, a machine is shown which has several alterations included in the embodiment of the centring device, such as a drive by electrical motor of most of the movements and grooved-cams instead of cams with a roller-rod, the rollers being maintained against the cams by means of springs.

An alteration made in the construction of the centring device applies to the system driving the movement of legs starting position.

For this purpose, two small connecting-rods m and n have their mutual point articulated on a movable rod p going through guide brackets q and r joined to the frame I. The spring it having its bearing on one side against bracket q and on the other against the buffer u held up by the rod p tends of course to spread the shoulders d and e outwardly, as shown by Figs. 21 and 22. These shoulders are held close to each other when the end of spindle 0 comes into abutment with the end of lever v pivoted at w and which is urged into contact therewith by a spring 2 This return to the initial position is obtained through the action of a cam |8| operatively connected with the driving shaft IT. The rotation of this cam moves in the-direction of arrow I82, the end I88 of a lever I88 movably connected to rod 9' by ball joint I85. The releasing of the system is obtained as before by manually pushing down the driving button y, which has a pendent foot 11 resting on the opposite end'of lever or latch 0 resulting in the release of said latch.

When screw I81 has been loosened, part I88 makes it possible to move its point of fixation along rod p when,- in order to adjust the folding length of the shirt, the whole of the centering device of the modeling tray is shifted or adjusted along rod p to the desired extent.

The machine shown in Figs. 23 to 25 is different from the one described in Figs. 4 to 20, for the following reasons:-

An electrical motor, I88, for instance, working continuously, drives, by means of a strap I88 and a cog-wheel 8, another cog-wheel loose on shaft IT. A coupling-device H2, described herebelow, permits at any time wanted to drive the shaft I! and have it accomplish the single necessary revolution for accomplishing a complete folding of the shirt. It should be stated that a single rotation of shaft 11 is suflicient for folding the shirt and this shaft carries all the cams driving the various rods that cause the motions of the parts resulting in the folding.

This shaft l| moreover bears, apart from the cam |8| starting the centririg-device,

Two grooved cams H8 and H4 shifted apart so as to drive, successively and respectively the side pressing down trays 28 and 28 by means of the rods 2| and 24 bearing on their lower ends the guide rollers moving into the grooves of said cams H8 and Ill.

The rectilinear displacement of rod 2| causes the pressing down of the tray 28 by means of link 8 oscillatory in H8, joined to link l|'| having the same oscillatory axle, and articulated to the small connecting-rod ||8 articulated on its other end to tray 28. v

f and g and their return to Ill which is obtained by,

H9 and I2!) turning; roundgirizi'l'll and, the; fsmallrconnecting-y three shoulders which, having been inserted into The pressing-down of trays 23 is the rod 24 by means of the links rod H22.

.tAn'othemcam I23"suitably fastenedxon allows the shirt :to ,be folded wicrosswisa already olded lengthwise}wrThrough rod131; the

lowermextremity of whi ch; :is wjoined 1 to La iroller rolling in its groovey; this: cam -I23',"causcs. the pressingdowmof: the plate 3.1'iianda then of the frame 32. For this purpose, therodiifll i pushes ithe small connecting-rod I 24 articulated as well to l eyerg iilyoscillatorygin ,I25xgand{pushing by means of its arm t9 the small connecting-rod 35' which drives the link which is articulated to it.

The folding movement is done as described for .the first type of operation of the machine.

The mechanical drive for this type of machine includes a driving rod i2li which is used to operate the injector part M.

For this purpose, on the shaft I27 continuously driven from the motor 18 a cam I28 has been loosely mounted and is driven at a desired speed by a coupling device i29 similar to device IIZ.

When turning round, this cam I28, acting through the rod MI], and the small connectingrod I30, operates the arm I pivoted at I32 and joined to part l26 having the same oscillatoryaxis. It is/thus evident that the displacement due to the forward and return movement of the ejecting device will be accomplished after a single revolution of the cam B28.

The coupling-devices used in H2 or in I29 so as to cause the revolution of a shaft or a cam during a turning can be any one of the known devices used for this purpose.

The coupling devices H2 and I29 may be of any suitable type such as, for example the device shown in Figures 26 and 2'7. In this arrangement the coupling device comprises a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft I21 and a collar l29 mounted loosely thereon. A bolt I34 provided with a finger l38 is mounted in the collar H9 and is biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel I33 by means of a spring I35. The bolt 83% is normally held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel H33 by the engagement of the finger 83% with the end of the pivoted lever I31.

To begin a cycle of operations of the machine the end of the lever 931 is moved downwards by pressure on a push button acting through the rod ltd. The spring H35 forces the finger I3 l into engagement with the ratchet wheel I33 the rotation of which then rotates the collar I29 and with it the eccentric l2ii which in turn rocks the rod I26 through the intermediary of the rods I40, I30 and iii.

when the collar flit has nearly completed one revolution the finger ltd reaches the end of the lever I3Isince the end of this lever is bevelled as indicated at 39 the finger rides up the bevel until it has drawn the finger ltd out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, whereupon the ro-' tation of the collar H9 ceases.

Preferably the machine is provided, near the pivot shaft of the modeling frame and approximately level with the table plane, with a centering' device comprising a central fixed shoulder and a pair of movable shoulders each secured to the end of a lever, which levers are coupled one to the other so that under the action of a common, force the movable shoulders move simultaneously away from the fixed shoulder.

" Such a device has the advantage of ensuring the centering of the article as it is sufficient to start the device to have the collar of for instance a shirt, firmly held in place by means of the put in their normal position, the machine after previous pressing of the shirt between the table and a modeling frame. performs the folding effecting the following consecutive operations:

(1) Each side is folded successively in the direction of the length by means of small boards articulated to the table and which, at the same time, stretch the cloth in order to remove the creases.

(2) By means of a double articulated and rotary frame, the small skirt of the shirt is then folded and then the shirt is folded along its length, being pressed down on the modeling frame.

(3) When the double articulated frame has returned to its original position, the modeling frame can also be turned over so as to turn the shirt upside down, with the front of the shirt on top, in order to permit its removal from the machine.

Moreover, this folding machine has a removal device for removing the articles automatically as soon as they are folded, placing them either on a small table provided at the end of the machine, or on any other device provided for their reception.

Manifestly variations may be resorted to and parts may be used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my claim:

l. A machine for folding shirts and other textile articles, comprising in combination, a stationary table, a modeling frame for carrying the shirt to be folded, pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft on said table, a pair of side boards articulated to the table and capable of folding the edges of the shirt lengthwise one after the other, a rotatably movable tray in the form of a frame pivoted at one end and articulated adjacent the other end thereof, said tray being capable of folding back upon itself in order to fold and press the skirt of the shirt and of rotating while remaining folded in order to cause the shirt to be folded around said modeling frame, the tray being furthercapable of a reverse rotary movement effecting the release of the modeling frame and said modeling frame upon being released being capable of turning over in order to invert the folded shirt upon said table, means for actuating said side boards in succession, and means for actuating said tray.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein a centering device comprising a central fixed shoulder member is located adjacent to the pivot shaft of the modeling frame approximately level with the plane of the stationary table, and a pair of movable shoulder members, and wherein a pair of levers are coupled together, each lever having one of said movable shoulder members secured upon the end thereof, and said shoulder members being simultaneously shiftable away from said fixed shoulder member.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein a invention, l

receiving member is provided at the end of the v means for releasing and resetting the ejector movement.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein a main drive shaft is provided and the means for actuating the side boards include cams upon said 5 drive shaft and levers cooperating with said cams, and the means for operating the tray comprise an eccentric on said shaft and a member cooperating therewith.

GERVAIS morr COMBARE'I'IE. 

